Seniors

Senior Year

Senior year offers up a lot of opportunities for students to get involved on campus, whether it be research, internships/co-ops, labwork, or theatre productions. Students with a 3.0 GPA or higher can even take advantage of some graduate courses. Utilizing these opportunities and the resources available in the Career Services Office can help you get a jump on the job/graduate school search.

You must complete your mandatory senior check survey and appointment/contract once you reach 80 credits (do not put this off!):

Senior Check Appointment/Contract

When should I complete my senior check?

A senior check should be completed when you reach 80 credits or you are about two semesters before you plan to graduate. The later you complete a senior check in your senior year, the less opportunities are available to identify and/or solve any issues that might arise.

Graduate in May or August: Complete the check in the summer, August, September, or October of the previous year.

Graduate in January: Complete the senior check in January/February of the previous year.

Part-Time Students or students in majors with labs may show up earlier on these lists. In such cases, you should plan to complete it at least two semesters before graduating.

About the Survey

This survey (Approximately 10-15 minutes) collects relevant diploma/commencement information necessary for your degree and helps us to evaluate and improve the college. You must complete the entire online survey (some questions are optional).

If you have trouble accessing the survey or need assistance, please let us know by emailing coas@niagara.edu.

Please notify us of future changes to your information by emailing coas@niagara.edu.

Note: One open-ended question asks about your activities since entering Niagara University (university and community activities, honors, awards, clubs and organizations, leadership positions, research collaborations, etc.). This is reviewed for certain awards at graduation. If you wish, you can jot down ideas ahead of time or cut and paste info from your resume. Alternatively, you can bring in a list/resume, when you have your senior check appointments or email any updates to coas@niagara.edu.

About the Senior Check Appointment/Contract

At the senior check appointment, you will sit down one on one to review your curriculum. The proactive contract is a formal review of your completed coursework and official degree requirements where we can answer questions, identify your remaining requirements, possible minors, possibilities for graduate courses, etc. To schedule an appointment:

Call 716.286.8060

Stop by the Dean’s Office (Dunleavy 315)

Email amagers@niagara.edu (include multiple times that you are free so we can slot you directly into the schedule when we receive your email)

The contract must be completed prior to your meeting.

Follow Your Senior Check Requirements/Updates

Senior checks provide a clear list of what is required for graduation, so please make sure to use it to check your future schedules. A second check is not required, but it can be updated if you wish to double-check your path to graduation, or still have questions. Remember that you will need to make up courses if you fail or withdraw from a course since signing your original senior check.

Senior Checklists

Follow your senior check recommendations and make up any "W" or "F" grades.

Make sure you have logged some Learn & Serve or volunteer hours during your time at NU.

Make sure you have completed NUB 102 successfully (Not required for transfer students). Students who have "F" grades in NUB 102 should contact Stefanie Wichhart (Timon 129) at 716.286.8090 or skw@niagara.edu to review your options.

Make sure that all of your transfer credit is posted if you completed any courses elsewhere in the previous summer.

Make sure that you have declared all of your minors on myNU.

Respond to any emails from the Dean's Office (Most updates about commencement start in April).